My New Water Colour Palette: Metal or Plastic?

[@bazzinator7477]

I am new to watercolour but I have been painting in oils for many years so I can offer you some advise on colour mixing. In particular, landscapes. Almost every colour you will see in the natural world can be mixed from a double primary palette ( a warm and cool of each of blue, yellow, and red). So that small palette I see you bought likely has 8 to 12 colours in it and that can make 99% of the colours you need.

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks Bazzinator. My palette is now primaries for mixing as well as a few neutrals and a couple of favourites.

[@arvindshukla8040]

I personally prefer 12 colour palettes for watercolor cause I feel that I can have a lot of pigments that make life a whole lot easier. I realize that a split primary of you need but I will never be able to remove my yellow ochre, pthalo green(BS), pthalo blue (GS) and quin. red fro my palette!

[@lindsayjayne2169]

This was really very helpful, and thankyou for that information on metal pallets, good to know what to expect. I'm trying to choose which to order and now I'll definitely be going with a plastic palette. So thankyou!🙏🏻

[@Eirenmist]

I too have the Mijello or Heritage palette, and I enjoy using it a lot for plein air. If the staining bothers you, it can be easily cleaned off with the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, or an equivalent.

[@MPLangerArt]

Eirenmist, thank you for commenting. I appreciate the tip about the Magic Eraser and will pick one up. I don't really mind the staining ... much.

[@arvindshukla8040]

A standard polymer eraser also works wonders!

[@essietangle9931]

Sounds like you are having fun exploring what works for you. I still have too many palettes but I enjoy them all, including one with Gouache. The second liner in your new plastic also helps to keep any paint from leaking out if you travel with it. At least that was what I was told and I am happy to say no problems with mine. Ice painting, my you are brave, and wait to see your paintings from that. Hope you are enjoying your new place and the fall weather. We are getting a break from the heat here in West Texas and its great.

[@MPLangerArt]

LOL Essie, we'll see how brave I am when January rolls around. I actually love being out on the ice since it gives me such a feeling of expanse. We're having a lovely break here from our own little heat wave, certainly nothing compared to West Texas though.Thanks for commenting.

[@bardotte5757]

Have used my metal palette for 22 years and not experienced any rust. I use the same as artist Charles Evans who too has had his metal for about 30 years and no rust. Hope you find a good solution to your rust problem.

[@petebathoart8819]

Hi Patricia. Brass paint boxes are an alternative, but expensive metal option. I use a Roberson style that was made by the little brass box company. The downside is the cost and the waiting time to have one made. I've not regretted the purchase, though I'm only just recovering from the shock! I have used the Liz Deakin and found it a decent palette, but generally I'm not a fan of plastic as most of the wash mixes tend to break up into little puddles or droplets when mixing, rather than staying together. I use ceramic palettes at home. Good discussion starter.

[@MPLangerArt]

Good to hear from you Pete. Brass paint boxes are way out of my price range but I'm finding myself really enjoying the Heritage palette. A friend took the little metal palette and did a great job of cleaning out all the rust with his fine detailer tool and then he sprayed it with rust inhibitor and a fresh coat of white on the inside and black on the outside. It's currently sitting on the back deck off - gassing .... stinks to high heaven! I expect I'll use it as my 'taking a stroll' palette.I appreciate your comment. Patircia

[@PatrickLeyGreaves]

That was exactly my problem when using metal, rust would eventually work its way into the paint. Very annoying. Your video will help many who aren’t aware of the different types of pallet , nicely done :)

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks Patrick, I hope it's useful. I'm so happy to be using the plastic palette now. There's a world of difference.

[@btwilks]

Always interesting to see how different artists approach questions of palettes and colours. I have a couple of those Mijello palettes (one for Cotman and one for artist grade paints) and have been happy with them - especially for the ease of extracting the paint without having to scour with precious brushes (as you point out). I've also had a small metal Winsor & Newton palette for nearly twenty years. Six of those years were spent in cold, damp England and the last twelve have been spent in hot, humid Florida - I must be lucky because (touch wood .... or metal) I've never had any rust in all those years. Maybe i should have bought two? Anyway, thanks for another entertaining video in your series of your journey with watercolour paints covering palettes, colour choice, brushes, paper etc. Best wishes, Brian.

[@MPLangerArt]

Hi Brian and thank you for your best wishes. I suspect the rust was the result of being on well water and using that when I painted. I'm glad you've had no issues. Have a great day!

[@the7thstranger939]

I'm going to coat my box in some clear coat nail polish. I love the compact size of the metal, but I agree that the plastic eliminates a lot of the problems. Also, your voice is extremely relaxing to listen to.

[@DahHar117]

Do you miss the convenience of switching out colors?

[@whippetwonderland3]

Hello, enjoyed watching, I have been thinking about a metal palette but, having seen what happened to you I now think I won’t bother. I also have the heritage palette, but the liner in my lid is white, they musta have changed it. I’m still in a quandary about colours and have just gone with what I’ve seen other artists use for now. A winter palette is a great idear and I’m going to give it some thought as your looks so good. Thank you, Michelle

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks for your comment whippetwonderland3. There are many who have no problem with metal palettes so do go by my experience alone. I had been using well water as I used the metal tins so I suspect that mat have contributed. Have fun choosing your colour palette!

[@sallyreff2574]

I scrubbed my metal pallets, and sprayed "paint pan area" with white rust-o-lium . Turned out like new.

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks Sally. I wasn't able to get the rust off at all to spray. I'll have a look at the product you suggest though. :)

[@sallyreff2574]

Good news! All the rust need not be totally removed Just clean with a scrubby sponge as best you can. Found the can in my storage. It's called. RUST-OLEUM professional High performance enamel. Any hardware story carries this.

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks Sally. You're a doll!

[@tdelphia1]

I've been so looking forward to this post since you're one of the few people vlogging who uses DS paint (most of mine are DS, although I also have a few Winsor Newton and some Schmincke).Oh Patricia, I'm so glad to see I'm not the only blue addict!!! LOL. And colors....I am still trying to wrestle the number of colors I have down. You are brave for going to only 1 green - I live near a national park with lots of forest land so I still prefer to have about 3 greens to give me quick "starting points" for mixes. I was very interested in your explanation for having both Mang. Blue hue and Cerulean - I've been trying to decide between them so that I have space to include Indanthrone blue. I've also been playing with Monte Amiate Natl Sienna versus raw sienna and yellow ocher. I'm also interested that you dropped shade colors - no payne's gray or neutral tint, etc. I had myself all set up to drop Payne's (so easy to mix) in favor of neutral tint and THEN I discovered Lunar Black hahahahaha. My current color problem seems to be balancing my growing interest in granulating vs. transparent colors - so I actually have a very transparent palette and then another that it is more oriented to landscapes with more granulating earth colors.I have that Mijello palette (and also a 24 color one) - I really want to "fit" into the 18 color palette because I just love the set up with that palette. When I paint at home though, I use a porcelain plate for mixing - it's sure easier to clean! Interesting about your rust issue - I've not had any issues yet with my metal palettes although I am terribly OCD about keeping my palette/paints clean so maybe mine has just stayed drier??OK....I could go on and on talking about paints/pigments so if you survived reading all my blahblahblah.....my one question is about your burnt sienna AND quin orange inclusion among your 18. I've found those to be SO close in hue, but the quin orange is transparent so maybe that is why you like having it? I'm currently wrestling with burnt sienna choices too because I'm finding I prefer the PR101 versions - but in DS that would just be transparent red oxide. And....neat hat trick eliminating both pthalo blue GS and pthalo green BS! I've never had a fondness for either but I feel like I'm violating some sacred watercoloring pact if I eliminate them. Like you, I enjoy having BOTH (French) ultramarine and cobalt blue.Oh shoot...and one more....have you ever played with Nickel Azo Yellow? (PY150) I'm fascinated with that color - it mixes wonderful greens, looks like quin gold in the pan, can be quite dark like an ocher in mass tone, but tints out to a pretty pale yellow. I'm trying to decide whether to keep that on a permanent palette in lieu of other colors.Sorry so long.....really enjoying your being back and following along on your journey :-) (I'm in Patrick's PW group, but haven't quite figured out the forums yet).

[@MPLangerArt]

Tracy, I really love Nickle Azo yellow and may find myself swapping out something else to include. And by the way, there is no secret pact! I enjoyed reading your post and wasn't bothered at all by the length.